Machine for sorting tobacco-leaves.



No. 705,300. Patented July 22, i902;

E. A. ROLLMAN.

MACHINE FOR SORTING TOBACCO LEAVES.

(Application filed Man 27, 1902.)

Lnnoi, WASHINGTON u c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFicE.

ELMER A. ROLLMAN, OF WEST MANCHESTER, OHIO.

MACHINE FOR SORTING TOBACCO-LEAVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of-Letters Patent No.. 705,300, dated July22, 1902.

Application filed March 27, 1902. semi 110,100,290. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- I Referring to the drawings, l designates aBe it known that I, ELMER A. RQLLMAN, a supporting-frame, which may beof the usual citizen of the United States, residing at West or anypreferred construction,associatedwith 55 Manchester, in the county ofPreble and State the upper portion of which is a table 2, ad-

of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Majacent to each end of which ismounted a chine for Sorting Tobacco-Leaves, of which roller 3 and 4,respectively, the latter being the following is a specification. clearlyshown in Fig. 2, and around these This invention relates to machines forsort-v rollers is passed an endless conveyor 5, which 6c ingtobacco-leaves, and while herein defined maybe of canvas or any othermaterial suited IO as adaptable for the purpose above stated its to thepurpose. Motion is imparted to the use is not to be confined to thatemployment conveyer through the roller.3, the latter bealone, as it maybe utilized for sorting other ing driven from a belt 6, one bend ofwhich materials and still be within the scope of the engages a pulley'7, carried by the shaft of 65 invention. said roller, and the otherbend a pulley 8, v The object of the invention is in a ready, carried bya' shaft 9, journaled in suitable simple, feasible, andthoroughly-practical bearings in the frame,the latter shaft being mannerto obviate the necessity of the emprovided with a tight and aloosepulleylO and ployment of a belt or equivalent means for 11,respectively, around which passes a belt 70 holding the leaves incontact with the con- (not shown) communicating with a suitable 2oveying means, and thus in position tobe source of power. The shaft 12 ofthe roller grasped by the sorting-rollers,obviating there- 3 is in thisinstance journaled in two of the by any tendency of tearing or breakingthe supporting-legs 13 of the frame, and the shaft leaves, withattendant impediment of the 14 of the roller 4 is journaled in the twoside 7 5 work. frame-pieces 15 and 16, which at the feeding 'With theseand other objects in View as endof the machine or that at which theroller will appear as the nature of the invention is 4: is located areprojected beyond the other better understood the same consists,generpair of supporting-legs 17 to present a table ally stated, in asorting-machine comprising for the workman. I 80 sorting-rollers,conveying mechanism, and The sortihg-rollerslS and 19 'are disposed 3ofeeding means having a reci'procatory moveparallel with one side of theframeand ar'e of ment with relation to the conveying mechless lengththanthe conveyer, as usual, the anism. roller 18 being supported upon ashaft 20,

Theinvention consists, further,in the novel journaled'in two of the legs13 and 17, while 85 construction and combination of parts of a theroller 19 is supported in spring-bearings 3 5 machine for sortingtobacco-leaves, as will be 21, secured to the said legs, as shown inFig. 2.

hereinafter fully described and claimed. Motion is imparted to theroller 18 through' In the accompanying drawings, forming a themedium ofabelt 22, which passes around part of this specification, and in whichlike a pulley 23, carried by the shaft of said roller, 9c numerals ofreference indicate correspondand a pulley 24, carried by the shaft 9.Back 40 ing parts, there is illustrated one form of emof the rollers anddisposed in any preferred bodiment of the invention'capable ofcarrymanner with relation thereto is a series of ing the same intopractical operation, it bechutes 25, leading to receptacles 26 forcatching understood that the elements therein exing the sorted leaves.But three chutes and 5 hibited may be varied or changed as to shape,receptacles are herein shown; but it is to be proportion, and exactmanner of assemblage understood that the number may be increased withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof, and still be within thescope of theinvention. and in these drawings-- The means for feedingthe leaves tothe sort- Figure 1 is a View in perspective of a ma ing-rollers andwhich constitutes the gist of I00 chine embodying the essential featuresof the present invention comprises a feeder or the present invention.Fig. 2 is a view in knocker 27, disposed obliquely to the consideelevation viewed from the side opposite veyer and having associated withit mechanthat shown in Fig. 1. ism for imparting a reciprocatorymovement,

thereby to effect a pushing action against the stalks of the leaves,which will operate to feed them to the sorting-rollers and at the sametime to effect positive sorting. The said mechanism comprises two armsor links 28 and 29, rigidly secured at one end to the feeder, the arm 28being the longer and being disposed toward the discharge end of themachine in order that the larger leaves will first be removed from themachine and then in progressive order the shorter ones. The terms feedand discharge end are herein employed merely for convenience, the feedend indicating that portion of the machine opposite which the operatorstands and the discharge end the opposite terminal of the machine. Thefree ends of the arms or links are connected with two disks 30, carriedby the upper ends of two shafts 31, journaled in the side pieces of theframe and carrying at their lower ends beveled gears 32 to mesh withsimilar gears 33, carried by a horizontal shaft 34, journaled in two ofthe legs of the frame, one end of the said shaft carrying a beveled gear35, meshing with a similar gear 36, carried by the shaft 9, the latterconstituting the main drive-shaft, as it will be seen that from thismotion will be imparted toall of the different movable parts of theapparatus. Each of the disks carries an eccentrically-disposed pin 37,adapted to engage with orifices 38 in the arms 28 and 29, by whicharrangement the feeder may be adjusted to leaves or articles ofdifferent lengths, and thereby extend the range of usefulness of themachine.

As a means for directing the leaves to the feeder a guide 39 isemployed, which is secured to two arms 40, having iutnrned ter minalsdisposed in openings 41 in the side piece 15, these arms being adaptedfor movement in the said opening, thereby to permit the guide to beadjusted with relation to the feeder.

The manner of operation of the machine is as follows: The conveyer andfeeder being in operationand the guide being set, the operator placesthe stalks of the leaves against the guide and they are then carriedforward by the conveyer and into engagement with the feeder, whichlatter, by impacting the stalks and by a dragging action due to theorbital path it describes, operates to move the leaves toward thesorting-rollers, which in the usual manner grasps their ends and feedsthem to the receptacles. It will be seen that by this arrangement nopressure or weight is applied to the leaves while on the conveyer, andbeing thus free from restraint all danger of twisting or of breakagewill positively be obviated.

The machine of this invention, while exceedingly simple ofconstruetion,will be found of the highest efficiency and durability inuse, and by reason of the simplicity of its parts may in case of damagebe readily repaired.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A sorting-machine comprising sorting means, conveying mechanism, andfeeding means having a reciprocatory movement with relation to theconveying mechanism.

2. A sorting-machine comprising sorting means, conveying mechanism, andfeeding means obliquely disposed to the conveying mechanism and having atransverse movement with relation thereto.

3. A sorting-machine comprising sorting means, conveying mechanism, andfeeding- '7. In a sorting-machine, the combination with an endlessconveyer and sorting means, of feeding means having a transversemovement with relation to the conveyer.

' S. In a sorting-machine, the combination with an endless conveyer andsorting means, of feeding means obliquely disposed to the conveyer andhaving orbital movement with relation thereto.

9. A sorting-machine comprising sortingrollers, conveying mechanism,feeding means having a reciprocatory movement with relation to theconveying mechanism, and a guide coacting with the feeding means.

10. A sorting-machine comprising sortingrollers, conveying mechanism,adjustable feeding means having a reciprocatory movement with relationto the conveying mechanism, and an adjustable guide coacting with thesaid means.

11. A sorting-machine comprising sortingrollers, conveying mechanism,and feeding means having a reciprocatory movement with relation to theconveying mechanism.

12. A sorting-machine comprising sortingrollers, conveying mechanism,and reciprocatory feeding means disposed at an angle to the rollers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELMER A. ROLLMAN.

Witnesses:

JULIA HOFFMAN, J. W. HOFFMAN.

